Door-operating mechanism for railway-cars.



J. 0. NEIKIRK.

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAIL 9. I910.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Elm R IEIEIIIIIII J. 0. NEIKIRK. 000B OPERATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. IQIO.

Patented Nov. 23, M915.

2 snins-suzs r 2.

O. NEIKIRK, OF MORGAN PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL DUMP CAR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

TQ all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat 1, JOHN O. NEIKIRK, a citihen of the United States, and resident of Morgan Park, in the county of. Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Door- Operating Mechanism for hailway-Cars, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of my specification. My invention relates to door operating mechanism more especially adapted for use in connection with the hopper-bottom type of cars; and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient mechanism secured to the doors themselves, that will Socurely maintain the doors in closed position, and whereby the doors at both sides of the longitudinal center line of the car will be simultaneously operated, as will more fully appear from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a dump car provided with my improved door-operating mechanism; the doors being shown closed. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line ..-2 of Fig. 1, looking toward the left, illustrating the position of the locking mechanism when the doors are closed. Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing the position of said mechanism when the doors have been partially opened. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view showing the doors opened to an abnormal position through the continued operation of the locking mechanism, disclosing the position of the looking or controlling mechanism. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 looking to the right, showing a portion of the bottom or door in section and means for locking the operating shaft. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1 looking to the right. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6 looking toward the right of said figure.

My invention is shown in Fig. 1 applied to that class of dump cars which are provided with a dumping hopper bottom, arranged longitudinally of the car, of which the dumping doors form a part; the doors when closed forming a V shaped hopper bottom in cross section, as shown in Fig. 2, extending longitudinally of the car between the trucks and constituting what may be termed two Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915..

Application filed March 9, 1910. Serial No. 548,202.

swinging dumping sections a, a, at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car. These doors a, a, are suitably pivoted at Z) to the frame or longitudinal sills of the car in a well known manner requiring no descriptlon. Rotatably secured to the doors a, a, as for example by the brackets or plates 0, are the rods or sh fts (Z, 03'. These shafts d, (5 preferably extend along the entire length of the doors as shown in Fig. l, and are provided at the outer ends with the links or bifurcated arms e, 0'. These arms are rigidly secured to the shafts or rods (1?, d, against rotation thereon; and the outer ends of the arms a, and e are pivoted to the connecting-link or bar f, thus forming what may be termed a double togglejoint between the doors. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the link or bar 7 extends transversely of the car bottom, connecting the lower or free ends of the hopper-doors on opposite sides of the car through the medium of shafts d, d, and arms 0, e. In order that the doors may be securely held throughout their length,'I prefer to provide this connecting and controlling mechanism at both ends of the doors as shown in Fig. 1, with the ends of the link or bar f pivoted between the bifucations of arms or links 6 and e.

Keyed to the shafts d, d, and preferably at or near the centers, are ratchets or starwhels g. Loosely mounted on rods or shafts d, d, or on the laterally extended hubs of the ratchets or star-wheels g, as shown, is the pawl-carrying member 11., which may be composed of two plates bolted or otherwise secured together as shown so as to house the ratchet wheel 9. The plates constituting members it are secured together with the gravity cont-rolled pawl i, between them at the top and above the ratchet wheel, as is more clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and are preferably made triangular in shape as shown, so as to permit of movement between the ratchets and the doors. The rivet or bolt whereby the plates of the member are secured together at the apex or top, may also provide a pivotal point for the pawl 2', which may be of the angular or two-ended construction shown; with one end thereof adapted to be constantly in engagement with the ratchet or star-wheel g. The lower base ends of the plates of member h are preferably bowed above the point where they are riveted or otherwise secured together, in order to form a bar or lever-receiving socket j, see Fig. 7 it being understood that other methods of securing a rod or lever member .12., may be employed. It is apparent from ratchet wheel 9, and also rod or shaft d, to

which the ratchet Wheel is keyed or secured, thereby moving arms e-(at both ends of the shaft d) from the position shown in Fig. 2,

through the arc of a circle. This movement of the arm 6, will move the end of-link or connecting bar 7, to which the arm 0 is pivoted, thereby throwing the pivotal point between the links 6 and f upward and past the dead center, as it were. With the pivotal points of the links or levers moved to one side of the dead center, (towit, in the construction shown, slightly above the horizontal plane of the shafts or rods (1, d) the Weight of the doors a, a, and the load thereon, will cause the mechanism to swing upward and assume the position shown in Fig.

- 3, thereby causing the car to dump its contents. Should it be desired, the doors may be opened still farther by rotating the shaft 65', on the opposite side of the car, through the action of the operating mechanism, towit, member h, and pawl 11, until the retaining mechanism composed of the arms 6, e, and link f,.a-re in the position shown in Fig. 4.

To close the doors, the pawl-carrying member h, is again oscillated as before de scribed, after first swinging the pawl i, to the opposite side of its pivotal point from that occupied by it when in position to rotate the shaft to open the doors, bringing it into contact with the ratchet-wheel on shaft cl. This will rotate shaft (Z, and with it link or arm 6, swinging the latter in a direction away from the doors and into the position shown in Fig. 2, whereby the door or doors on that side of the car will be maintained in closed position. The operator then rotates shaft d, on the other side of the car, after bringing the pawl into proper relation with the ratchet wheel on shaft 61, thereby swinging arm 6', in an opposite direction from arm e, causing the door or doors on that side of the car to be drawn up into closed position, and forcing the pivotal points into substantially the same horizontal plane as the axes of the shafts or rods (Z, d. This will firmly hold the doors on both sides of the longitudinal center line of the car in closed position.

When the arms and links are in closed position shown in Fig. 2, it is evident that the lateral pressure of the doors and weight thereon, together with the pivotal connections between the links, will be substantially in the same horizontal plane as the axes of the rotatable shafts, so that the mechanism will be securely held at the dead center until the shaft-rotating means is oper ated.

By bowing ,or bridging the link f, as shown in the drawings, it permits the link being placed between the bifurcations of the arms 6, a, (when the latter are so made) and to straddle the ends of the shaft extending between the bifurcations. This construction providesa stop to the downward movement of the links and permits the pivotal points to be thrown slightly below the horizontal plane of the axes of the shafts, thus providinga positive lock for the doors.

in order to retain the shaft or shafts d, d, together with the locking mechanism, in the desired position, and prevent their reverse movement and the resultant dropping of the doors farther apart, I provide the ratchet /i: which is securely fastened to shafts (Z, (Z, with the pawl Z pivotally mounted above the ratchet and adapted to engage therewith. The pawl and ratchet hold the shafts against rotation, while a new grip or bite on the ratchet wheel is being taken during the oscillation of the operating member /1,, and prevent the movement of the shafts and locking mechanism in one direction while the doors are being drawn to a closed position; and it is understood, that when it is desired to open the doors and dump the load, the pawl is first disengaged from ratchet It, so as to allow the shafts to rotate.

I have shown and described what I believe to be a preferred construction, but it is evi: dent that this construction may be altered in a number of details' without departing from the spirit of my invention; as for example, the link need not necessarily be bowed, as shown. but may be straight, and

other neans used to prevent its movement beyond a certain point below the horizontal plane of the axes of the shafts, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction shown; but

What I claim and wish to secure by Letters Patent; is

l. A car provided with hopper doors, and door operating mechanism pivotally mounted on and connecting said doors, the relation between the doors and said mechanism being such that movement of the doors to closed position will cause. said mechanism to move about its pivotal points and lock the doors.

2. In a railway car having bottom doors pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the iongitudinal center line of the car, mechanism extending transversely of the car and pivotally mounted on said doors so as to move therewith and to control the same, the relation between the doors and said mechanism being such that movement of said mechanism into a distended position permits the doors to open while movement of said mechanism into folded or contracted position locks the doors.

A car provided with hopper doors, door operating mechanism pivotally mounted on one door, and means connecting said operating mechanism to an adjacentdoor, the connection between said means and mechanism being such that the doors will be locked by said means when the point of connection between the means and mechanism is swung from a vertical plane intermediate of the doors into a vertical plane on the opposite side of the free end of one of the doors.

4. In combination with the oppositely swinging doors of a dump car, rotatably mounted mechanism secured to said doors and movable therewith, means extending transversely of the car and rigidly secured to the rotatable mechanism of oppositely swinging doors, said means being provided with yielding points intermediate of its ends and adapted to move about the axes of said rotatable mechanism, the relation between the mechanism and said means being such that the intermediate yielding points of the means will occupy substantially the same plane as the axes of said mechanism when the doors are closed and lock the latter in.

place, and means adapted to operatively engage with said mechanism when moved in one direction to rotate the same.

In combination with oppositely swinging doors of railway cars and the like, a door-operating mechanism comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on each of said doors, mechanism secured to each of said shafts and adapted to move in the arc of a circle concentric with said shafts when the latter are rotated, the mechanism of the opposite shafts being. pivotally connected together in a manner that will bring the pivotal points substantially in the plane of the axes of the shafts when the doors are closed, and means for rotating said shafts.

6. In combination with oppositely swinging doors, a shaft rotatably mounted on each of said doors, mechanism secured to each of said shafts and adapted to move in the arc of a circle when the shafts are rotated, the relation between the doors and the shafts with said mechanism being such that the lateral pressure of the doors will be in a direction substantially parallel with the plane occupied by the axes of said shafts and mechanism when the doors are closed, and means having operative connection with the shafts whereby the latter may be rotated.

such that the axes of the shafts and the pivotal points of said mechanism will be in substantially the same horizontal plane when,

the doors are closed, and means operatively connected with said shafts whereby the latter may be rotated.

8. In combination with the oppositely swinging hopper doors of a dump-car, mechanism rotatably secured on. said doors and maintaining a fixed relation thereto, means extending transversely of the car and pivotally connected with the mechanism of the oppositely swinging doors and adapted to be moved thereby, whereby the doors at 0pposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car are operatively connected together, the relation between said mechanism and the means being such that the pivotal connections of said means and the axes of said mechanism will be in substantially the same horizontal plane when the doors are closed, and means adapted to be operatively connected with said mechanism whereby the latter may be rotated and the pivotal connections between said means and mechanism moved out of the same horizontal plane.

9. Door operating mechanism for railway cars and the like, comprising mechanism rotatably mounted on oppositely swinging doors, pivotally connected levers extending transversely of the car and fixedly secured at their ends to the mechanism of oppositely swinging doors, the relation between said mechanism and levers being such that the pivotal points of the levers will be in substantially the same horizontal plane as the axes of the rotatable mechanism when the doors are closed, and means operatively connected with said mechanism whereby the latter may be rotated.

10. In combination with the oppositely swinging doors of a dump-car, shafts rotatably mounted on said doors, a set of pivotally connected levers extending transversely of the. car and fixedly connected with the shafts of the oppositely swinging doors, the relation between the shafts and said levers .being such that the pivotal points will occupy substantially the same horizontal plane as the axes of said shafts when the doors are closed, and means operatively connected with said shafts whereby the latter may be rotated in either direction.

11. In combination with the doors of a dump-car arranged to swing in opposite directions, mechanism rotatably mounted on said doors, means extending laterally of the car and pivotally connecting the mechanism secured to the oppositely swinging doors, the

relation between the mechanism and said means being such that their pivotal connection will be in substantially the same hori- Zontal plane as the axes of said mechanism when the doors are closed, and means adapted to engage with said mechanism, whereby the latter may be rotated.

12. In combination with the doors of a hopper-car, rotatably mounted shafts secured to said doors, a double toggle-joint connecting the shafts of the oppositely swinging doors, the connection between said shafts and the double toggle-joint being such that the pivotal points will occupy substantially the same horizontal plane as the rotatably mounted on each of said doors and movable therewith, mechanism extending transversely of the car and rigidly secured at its ends to the shafts of oppositely swing: ing doors, said mechanism being provided with yielding points intermediate of its ends and adapted to move about the axes of said shafts when the latter are rotated, so as to bring the pivotal points of said mechanism and the axes of the shafts into substantially the same horizontal plane when the doors are closed, and means loosely mounted on the shafts and having a pawl and ratchet engagement with said shafts, whereby the latter are rotated when said means is oscillated.

la. The door operating mechanism for oppositely swinging doors comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on each of said doors and movable therewith, levers pivotally connected together and rigidly secured to the shafts of doors on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car, the relation between the shafts and levers being such that the pivotal points of the levers and the axes of the shafts will occupy substantially the same horizontal plane when the doors are closed, and means loosely mounted on said shafts and adapted to oscillate, said means being'arranged to have operative relation with the shafts at predetermined intervals transversely of the car and rigidly securedto shafts mounted on doors located to opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car, said means being provided with yielding points intermediate of its ends which are adapted to be brought into substantially the same horizontal plane as the axes of the shafts when the doors are in closed position, mechanism loosely mounted on said shafts and adapted to have operative srelation therewith at predetermined intervals in the movement of said mechanism, and means engaging with said shafts and arranged to prevent the rotation of the latter in one direction.

16. A car provided with hopper doors, means pivotally mounted on the doors and provided with intermediate yielding points whereby the doors are tied together and locked in closed position when the intermediate yielding points are moved to points on opposite sides of the meeting edges of the doors, and meanscarried by the doors whereby the tying means is moved so as to permit the doors to open.

17. A car having hopper-doors, means oscillatingly mounted on said doors and movable therewith, a portion of said means extending transversely of the car to control the position of the doors on opposite sides of the car and automatically lock the doors, and means, carried by the doors, adapted to have operative relation with the first mentioned means whereby the latter are actuated and the doors brought into the desired position.

18. A car provided with a swinging door on each side of the longitudinal center line of the scar, means rotatably mounted on the door located on one side of the longitudinal center line of the car, and means extending transversely of the -'-ar and connecting said first mentioned means with the door on the other side of the longitudinal center of the car so as to simultaneously operate the doors on both sides of the longitudinal center line of the car, the relation between the last mentioned means, the first mentioned means and the doors being such that when the points of connection between both means and the doors are moved substantially into alincmcnt the doors will be auton'iatically locked in closed position.

19. In combination with the oppositely swinging doors of a dump-car, rotatably mounted mechanism secured to said doors and movable therewith, means extending transversely of the car and rigidly secured to the rotatable mechanism of oppositely swinging doors, said means being provided with yielding points intermediate of its ends and adapted to move about the axes of said rotatable mechanism, and means adapted to operatively engage with said mechanism -when moved in one direction. to rotate the ed on one of said doors, means provided with an intermediate yielding point and operposition, and means carried by the door provided with said mechanism and adapted to have operative relation with the latter to rotate the same.

21. In a car provided with hopper doors, door-operating mechanism rotatably mounted on one of said doors, means intermediate of said mechanism and the adjacent door whereby the doors are controllably connected together, said means being provided with pivotal points intermediate of the ends thereof, adapted to be moved to opposite sides of the points of connection with the mechanism and said door and thereby automatically lock the doors in closed position, and means loosely mounted on said mechanism and adapted to have operative relation therewith to rotate the same and control the position of the doors.

22. In a car provided with a hopper door, located on each side of the longitudinal center line of the car, mechanism rotatably mounted on one of the doors, means intermediate of said mechanism and the door on the opposite side of the longitudinal center line of the car, the relation between said means and mechanism being such that the position of the doors on both sides of the longitudinal center line of the car may be controlled and the doors automatically locked in closed position, and means oscillatingly mounted on the door provided with said mechanism and adapted to be thrown into operative relation with the mechanism when said means are oscillated whereby said mechanism is rotated and position of the doors controlled.

A car provided with doors hinged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car, mechanism carried by and rotatably mounted on the oppositely disposed doors, means intermediate of and connected to the mechanism on the oppositely disposed doors, the relation between the means and said mechanism being such that the doors will be held closed after rotation of the mechanism in one direction.

24. A car provided with a hopper door on each side of the longitudinal center line of the car, means rotatably mounted on one of the doors, mechanism intermediate of said means and the door on the opposite side of the longitudinal center line of the car, said mechanism being provided with yielding points intermediate of the ends thereof adapted to be moved to opposite sides of the ends connected with said means and said door, and a second means carried by the door on which the first mentioned means are mounted whereby the first mentioned means are rotated and the intermediate ylelding points of said mechanism moved into locking relation with the first mentioned means and said door.

25. A car provided with oppositely disposed hopper doors, means rotatably mounted on said doors, mechanism intermediate of and yieldingly connected with the mea-ns on oppositely disposed doors, and means carried by the doors on which the first mentioned means are mounted whereby the first mentioned means and the intermediate mechanism are rotated into a looking or unlocking relation.

26. A car provided with oppositely disposed hopper doors, means rotatably mounted on one of said doors, transversely extending means connected to said first mentioned means and the oppositely disposed door, said transversely extending means having yielding points intermediate of the ends, and a third means carried by the door which is provided with the first mentioned means whereby said first mentioned means may be rotated and the transversely extending means placed in a looking or unlocking relation.

27. A car provided with doors arranged to swing toward and away from each other to close and open respectively, means carried by the doors whereby the latter may be held in closed position or held apart in open position, and means carried by the doors whereby the first-mentioned means may be so moved as to hold the doors either partially or entirely open.

28. A car provided with doors arranged to swing toward and away from each other to close and open respectively, link mechanism earned by the oppositely disposed doors whereby the latter may be held closed or apart, and means mounted on the doors whereby said link mechanism may be moved into or off center to close or open the doors.

29. A car provided with doors arranged to swing toward and away from each other to close and open respectively, link mechanism carried by the oppositely disposed doors whereby the position of the latter may be controlled, and means mounted on the doors whereby the link mechanism-may be moved into substantially a dead center and the doors held closed, or moved off center at one 'end of the link mechanism to partially open the doors and at both ends of the mechanism to entirely open the door.

30. Operating mechanism for the oppo-.

sitely swinging doors of a dump car, comprising links pivotally secured to the doors and to one another whereby the doors are connected together, said links being adapted to swing into dead centers to lock the doors, point intermediate of both car sides and the 10 and means carried by the doors for moving adjacent door to lock the doors, and means the links into or out of looking position. carried by the doors whereby the links are 31. Operating mechanism for the oppoheld against movement.

sitely swin 'in doors of a dump car comprising liniis i ivotally secured together and JOHN NEIKIRK' to the doors for connecting the same to- Witnesses: gether, said links being adapted to move G. F MCHUGH,

into dead centers so as to have a pivotal M. E. STOUTENBURGH. 

